Pneumatic tire.



G. L. KLINE.

.PNEUMATICI TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 22. 1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

'LNVENTOR. GEORGE L.. KUNE.

GEORGE L. KLINE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PNEUMATIC TIRE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 1, 1909.

Application led December 22, 1906. Serial No. 349,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. 1t knownt-hat l, Geenen L. KLINE, a citizen of the [muted States, and resident of St. Louis, )'lissouri, have invented certain neu' and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and eX- act description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. y

My invention relates to a pneumatic tire, particularly adapted for use on vehicle wheels, and the objetit of my invention to arrange a plurality of inner tuhcson the interior of the heavy outer tube, so that if one inner tube be punctured, the remaining tube can be further inflated to fill up the space caused by the deflation of the punctured tube, and thus quickly and conveniently render said tire tit for further service.

For the above purposes, lmy invent-ion consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts. which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tire of my improved construction, and showing the arrangement of the valves through which the inner tubes are inflated; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section analogous to Fig. 2, and showing the positions the inner tubes assume Whenever one of said inner tubes is punctured.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings 1 designates the outer tube of the tire, which is of' the usual form and construction, with the exception that on the interior of said outer tube and directly oppo-V 'site the opening thereinto is formed a continuous rib 2, whicharrangement provides an opening or chamber in the outer tube, which is approximately heart-sha pcd in cross section.

Secured in any suitable manner to theinside of the outer tube are sections 3 of tough, flexible material, suchas leather, which extend from points near the mee-ting edges oi' the outer tube around to the apex of the rib 9., and from this point said sections 3' extend diametrically through the -opening in the outer tube, in the form of flaps 4, and free ends of which terminate adjacent the meeting edges of the outer tube. These flaps 4 are not attached to one another, and,

i l i before the inner tubes are positioned in the outer tube, are free to move to either side of the space or opening in the outer tube.

Inner tubes of rubber, or analogous material. are constructed in the usual manner, and of' such form as to lit in the spaces within the outer tube on each side of the liaps 4, and when said inner tubes are inflated, through the valves (3, of ordinary construction, said inner tubes bear directly upon the leather sections -l and upon the flaps 4:, as seen in Fig. Q.

The inner tubes 5 are entirely independent. of one another, and when either one of said tubes is punctured, and the air exhausts therefrom, the pressure in the opposite tube willinstantly cause the punctured tube to be defiated, and Will press said defiated tube, together with the flaps 4t, outwardly over the puncture, and against the inside of the outer tube, against which the punctured tube is normally positioned as seen in Fig. 3. This action closes the puncture, and. maintains the outer tube in operative condition, although the puncture necessarily results in a partial collapse of said outer tube. As soon as the puncture is noticed, the unpunctured inner tube is further inflated in order to entirely fill the opening or space within the outer tube, which action again brings the outer tube to its normal condition, and thus a tire of my improved construction is not rendered unserviceable by reason of a puncture.

The rib 2 is provided at the center of the outer tube 1 so as to provide an extra thick tread for the tire, which arrangement greatly reduces the liability ot a sharp object penetrating the exact center of' the outer tube and puncturing both the inner tubes at the same time, and such action is rendered impossible owing to the provision of the leather sections 3, which hang free from the apex of the rib '12, and would thus deflect the point of any sharp object passing through4 the center of the outer tube, and prevent contact with both of the inner tubes. This rib also practically divides the compartment 1n the outer -tube into two equally sized spaces, and materially assists in maintaining the-inner tubes in their proper positions.

A pneumatic tire comprising an outer tube which is round in cross section, and having a thickened tread portion, a con tinuous integral rib formed 0n the inner .Uurface of the outer tube directly opposite the meeting ed es thereof, a pair of sections of tough 'flexib e material fixed to the inner Surfside of the outer tube and forming a 1ining therefor, flaps integral with the edges of the lining` that lie adjacent to the rib, and which flaps are independent and lie Hat -against one another to form a free flexible,

double Wall, which extends from the rib on the outer tube to the meeting edges of said outer tube, and said double Wall extending entirely around the interior of the outer tube to form two compartments therein, and a pair of independent inner tubes detachf ably arranged one in each of the compartinents'formed by the flaps Within the outer 5 tube, either o'ne of which inner tubes may be inflated to fill the space normally occupied by the opposite tube in case of de- [lation of said opposite tube. In testimony whereof, I `have signed lny naine to this specification, in presence of two subeeribingr Witnesses.

GEORGE L. KLINE.

M. P. SMITH, 

